Vehicle-wheel.



UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEErcE.

HERMAN CRAMER, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

Specification of Letters Patent.

:Patented Aug. 25, 1908.

Application 1ed December 13, 1905Seria1No. 291,590. Renewed May 27,1908. Serial No. 435,254.

' ery as for automobiles, bicycles, and similar purposes.

The object of my invention is to produce'a wheel in which a yieldingsupport is provided that may be applied to the ordinary wheel in placeof the usual pneumatic or solid rubber tire, or which may be formed as apart of the wheel when originally constructed. But in either case theouter tire or supporting member is at a distance from the end of thespokes, thereby forming a wheel Within a wheel, and in the latter form,straight braces take the place of the ordinary fellies for givingperipheral strength to the spokes. While the tire is thus arranged at adistance from the felly, or the ends of the spokes, as lthe case may be,the supports therefor are of such size, shape and strength as to preventits being carried laterally beyond the plane kof the wheel even underthe enormous strain that occurs when the vehicle is moving sidewise, orskidding An embodiment of my invention is shown in the accompanyingdrawings in which:

Figure l is a broken side elevation of a portion of an ordinary wheelshowing the manner of applying my invention thereto. Fig. 2 is asectional view taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a side elevationof a portion of the rim of a wheel showing the use of an auxiliarymember for supporting the tire. Fig. 4 is a sectional view on line 4 4of Fig. 3. Figs. 5 and 6 are detail views of slight modifications. Fig.7 is an enlarged sectional view of one form of my invention forming apart of the wheel as originally constructed.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, 1 indicates the rim orfelloes of an ordinary wheel around which is applied a band 2 of channeliron, the walls of the band being preferably substantially even with thesides of the rim. Seated within this band is a 'supporting or carryingband 3 upon which are seated at suitable intervals, preferably at theends of the spokes, sockets 4, for holding blocks 5 of yieldingmaterial, as india rubber. Each of the sockets is preferably slightlytapering longitudinally and oblong or oval in cross section and providedwith a flange 6 by means of which it is secured to the band 3 withsuitable fasteners, as bolts or rivets '7 Each of the blocks 5 ispreferably slightly tapering to t its socket and extends to the bottomthereof to provide the necessary resiliency to yieldingly support thevehicle. The upper portion of the block is preferably provided with ashoulder 8 that is adapted to rest on the edge or rim of the wall of thesocket 4 and add its resiliency when the block is compressed, the rimbeing preferably flanged as at 9 to prevent excessive wear. The centralportion of the block is provided with a conical perforation 10 in whichis seated a tapering proj ectionll on the under or inner side of a base12, that is rigidly secured to the tire 13 by rivets 14. By tapering theprojection it forms a wedge which forces the rubber against the sides ofthe socket and thereby utilizes the resiliency that is secured in thatmanner, as well as by its inward thrust or movement. The edges of thetire Vare preferably flanged inward as shown at 15, which adds verymaterially to its strength and also prevents the slipping sidewise ofthe bases 12 in case any of them Y should become loosened or broken.

The band 3 is preferably formed in sections, the ends of which are bentand turned outward as shown at 16, and secured together by a bolt 17,wherebyit can be easily placed within the channel 2, or removedtherefrom. A block 18, or shims or'thin pieces of metal, are preferablyplaced between the out-turned ends 16 to give greater socket 19. Seatedin the socket at one end and encircling the pintle with the other, is acoil spring 24, which is adapted to normally force the tire outward, butwhich will be compressed when the tire is forced inward.

Instead of having the bases of the auxiliary sockets rest directly uponthe band 3 they may be provided with roller bearings as shown in Fig. 6,in which the bases 2() are provided with eyes 26 as by cutting away thecentral portion of the end and forming the eyes therein, as by bendingthe remaining portions into coils, in which are rotatably mountedrollers 27. The central portion of each of the rollers is adapted torest upon the central portion of the band and ermit movementcircumferentially, while ateral movement is prevented by the flanges orside walls of the band 2.

Instead of having the outer surface of the tire smooth as shown it maybe corrugated in the usual manner but'which is not necessary to show togive it greater tractive power, or it may be provided with a rubberfacing 28 which is secured and held in place by a channel band or iron29, as shown in Fig. 5.

In building new wheels I prefer to construct them as shown 'in Fig. 7,in which 30 indicates a spoke, upon the outer end of which is mounted acastin@F 31 having a recess or socket 32 in radial aIinement with thespoke and in which is seated the block 5 of resilient materialsubstantially the same as hereinbefore shown and described.` The sockethowever, is ldeeper than the socket heretofore described, and yieldinglysup- -ported near the bottom thereof by a coil spring 33, and a plate34, is a metallic late 35, which is adapted to take up part o thepressure upon the tire through the projection 11, the inner end of whichrests upon the plate at all times.-

Seated under the plate 35 is a sheet of rubber 36, which assists intaking up the pressure when the tire is forced inward. The under surfaceof the plate 34 is preferably provided with a pin or projection 37 whichfits within the coil of spring 33 and prevents its becoming displaced.The ends of the spokes as well as the ends of braces 38 are seated insmaller sockets 39 on the casting 31, and rigidly secured therein as bybabbitting 40.

This affords a very strong construction as the it produces as strong astructure as the ordinary wheel and can be manufactured for less cost.

Having described my j invention, what -I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a vehicle wheel, a socket at the outer end of each s oke, a blockof rubber in each socket provi( ed with a tapering perforation, a tiresurrounding the wheel, and inwardly extending tapering projections onthe tire for entering said perforations.

2. In a vehicle wheel, a socket at the outer end of each spoke, a platein each socket, means for supporting said plate yieldingly, a block ofrubber bearing on each plate, and a tire provided with means forengaging with said blocks.

3. In a vehicle wheel, a socket at the outer end of each-spoke, a platein each socket, a sheet of rubber thereunder, a plate under the sheetprovided with a projection, a coil spring between the last mentionedplate and the bottom of the socket, one end of which encircles saidprojection, a centrally perforated block of rubber in each socket, and atire around the wheel provided with projections for entering saidperforations and rest" ing u on the first mentioned plate.

4. In a vehicle wheel, a circumferentially channeled band, a dividedband therein, sockets secured on the divided band, a block of rubber ineachjsocket provided with a conical perforation, a tire, and inwardlyextending projections thereon in position for entering said erforations.

5. In a ve icle wheel, a circumferentially channeled band, a dividedband therein having its ends bent outward, means for securing said endstogether, a socket on the divided band at the end of each spoke, acentrally perforated block of rubber in each socket, an inwardly flangedtire, and inwardly extending projections on said tire, one within theperforation of each block.

6. In a vehicle wheel, a circumferentially channeled band, a dividedband therein,

` sockets secured to the divided band, a block of rubber in each socket,auxiliary yielding members seated between said sockets, and a tiresurrounding and engaging with said rubber and auxiliary members.

7. In a vehicle wheel, a circumferentially channeled band, a dividedband therein,

sockets secured to the divided band, perforated blocks of rubbertherein, auxiliary sockets seated between said other sockets, a coilspring in each auxiliary socket, a tire, and inwardly extendingprojections on the tire for entering said blocks and springsrespectively.

8. In a vehicle wheel, a circumferentially channeled band, a dividedband therein, sockets secured to the divided band, and each providedwith a block of rubber, auxiliary sockets therebetween, each of which isprovided with a basey pins in the walls of the channeled band over saidbases, a spring in each auxiliary socket, and a tire engaging with saidblocks of rubber and springs.

9. In a vehicle wheel, a cireurnferentially channeled band, a dividedband therein, sockets secured to the divided band, and each providedwith a block of rubber, aux- 10 iliary sockets therebetween, rollers inthe signature, in resence of two witnesses, this 15 ovember 1905.

HERMAN CRAMER. Witnesses:

M. R. SEELY,` F. M. BARTEL.

27th day of

